顾问

• Pinyin: gù wèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 顾 = to look after/consider; 问 = to ask/inquire

Meaning

Consultant; advisor. A professional who provides expert advice in a specific field.

Used in business, government, legal, and technical contexts. Can be a formal title or describe a role. Often implies specialized expertise and authority in the field.

Examples

1. 公司聘请了一位法律顾问来处理合同问题。 The company hired a legal consultant to handle contract issues.
2. 他担任政府的经济顾问已经三年了。 He has served as the government's economic advisor for three years.
3. 我们需要找一位专业顾问来评估这个项目。 We need to find a professional consultant to evaluate this project.

Usage Guide

Context: business, government, professional, legal

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 请问您是哪方面的顾问？(May I ask what kind of consultant you are?)
• 我们公司的顾问建议扩大市场。(Our company's consultant suggested expanding the market.)

Don't Say

• 我的朋友是我的顾问 (顾问 implies professional expertise — for friendly advice, use 参谋 or just say 给我建议)

Origin & History

Compound of 顾 (to look after, consider) + 问 (to ask, inquire), meaning someone to consult for advice.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Professional/Business